Crime

Victim left unconscious after unprovoked attack in Haverfordwest

Published

2 years ago

September 17, 2024

A MAN has been sentenced for carrying out an unprovoked attack that knocked another man unconscious outside Eddie’s nightclub in Haverfordwest.

CCTV footage shown to Llanelli magistrates showed the defendant, David Petrie, 31, stride up to Mr David Corbin as he began walking away from the nightclub’s entrance.

“I can’t remember anything about the incident, and I think this is probably for the best,” Mr Corbin told the court in a victim personal statement.

“This was an unexpected and unprovoked attack, and I’m shocked that it happened. I don’t know [David Petrie], and I have no connection to him.”

The attack took place on the night of October 22 as Mr Corbin made his way from Eddie Rocks.

“The victim was speaking to a female outside the club and the next thing he knew was when he woke up on the ground,” said Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson.

“The door staff told him that he’d been hit, and had lost consciousness.”

As a result of the attack, Mr Corbin required five stitches to his right ear and sustained cuts around both his eyes. He also suffered considerable pain as a result of the attack, particularly in his ribs and chest.

Police officers were called to the scene and subsequently arrested the defendant. He was placed inside the cage in the rear of a police van, but began thrashing around violently, and screaming incoherently.

As a result of his behaviour, he was taken to Withybush Hospital but while he was being examined, he began kicking out at the officers.

“He made a number of swings with his right arm which made contact with one of the officer’s right cheek and chin,” said Ms Jackson.

Photographs of the injuries sustained by the police officer and Mr Corbin were shown to the magistrates.

Petrie, of Newport Road, Lower Town, Fishguard, pleaded guilty to assaulting Davd Corbin, causing him actual bodily harm, and of assaulting an emergency worker by beating. He chose to be legally unrepresented in court and chose to say nothing in mitigation.

After considering a detailed probation report, magistrates sentenced Petrie to 22 weeks in custody suspended for 18 months.

He was ordered to pay £750 compensation to Mr Corbin, £85 prosecution costs and a £154 court surcharge. He must wear an alcohol abstinence tag for 120 days and must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Crime

Local carpenter retains driving licence despite previous ban

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Herbrandston carpenter has been allowed to keep his driving licence despite a previous driving disqualification for using his mobile phone whilst driving.

Addressing District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week, Simon Shaw stressed the disqualification was having a major impact on his work commitment as well as his ability to support members of his family.

“If the ban continues, at least two of my five employees will have to be lost” said Shaw, who works as a self-employed carpenter operating from Herbrandston and the Milford Haven Industrial Estate.

“We travel throughout the whole of West Wales and also work at Thorne Island, where we’ve been providing logistical support for renovations for the last four years.”

Shaw, of Triplestone Close, Herbrandston, went on to say that his business has only one other driver who works as a reserve fire fighter.

“As a result, he’s not available to provide the 24 hour cover we provide to various care homes in the county,” he said.

Simon Shaw concluded by stating that his daughter is also dependent on his support having recently given birth to twins while his son-in-law and his partner’s mother are both currently undergoing serious healthcare treatments.

“I’m trying to provide as much logistical support for them as I can, but without my driving licence, this is impossible,” he said.

After listening to his comments, Judge Layton granted Shaw permission to retain his licence.

Crime

Delivery driver caught twice over legal drink-drive limit

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A DELIVERY driver has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel when he was over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Twenty-nine year old Sam Rowe was stopped by officers just before 9.30 am on April 20 as he drove his Vauxhall Vivaro along Ferry Lane in Pembroke Dock.

“His speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week.

“There was also a strong smell of intoxicants emanating from him.”

When spoken to by the officers, Rowe stated he’d drunk a pint of alcohol approximately an hour before being stopped, however subsequent breathalyser tests showed he had no less than 75 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Rowe, of Hazel Close, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to the offence and was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher who informed the court that the defendant was holidaying in Pembrokeshire at the time of the offence.

“His daughter fell ill and he was attempting to find painkillers for her at a supermarket,” he said. “He’s very remorseful and is now going to lose his job as a delivery driver.”

Rowe, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for a total of 20 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Police tip-off leads to driving ban for Milford motorist

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE motorist has lost his licence after police received information that the 40-year-old male may have been driving under the influence of drugs.

This week Haverfordwest Magistrates court was told that at around 8.30pm on November 22 officers received a call informing them that Michael Miles was suspected of driving his Peugeot Bipper through Milford Haven after consuming drugs.

Miles was subsequently stopped on Marble Hall Road and when spoken to by the officers, he informed them that he was a drug user. A saliva sample tested positive for cocaine while further tests carried out at the police station showed that Miles had 760 mcg of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in his system, the legal limit being 50.

Miles, of Milford Road, Steynton, chose to be legally unrepresented in court and pleaded guilty to the drug-driving charge.

The probation service said he was very remorseful for the offence and has since had appointments with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service to help him deal with his drug usage. Miles was served with an interim driving disqualification however as a result of his previous non-payment of fines, his punitive sentencing was adjourned to Thursday, May 7.

“If you pay your outstanding fines before Thursday, you will be fined for this offence,” warned District Judge Mark Layton. “But if you don’t pay, you will be given a custodial sentence.”